Foreign Exchange: Three questions with SixOneFive Soccer's Ben Wright
Austin FC returns to MLS play on Saturday to face the Supporters' Shield leaders. We spoke to the journalist who perhaps knows them best to get some perspective.
Austin FC resumes action on Saturday night, taking on league-leading Nashville SC, a little more than a year after the teams faced off in Q2 Stadium against each other in the U.S. Open Cup final.
While there's less on the line in this contest than a U.S. Open Cup trophy, there are decidedly high stakes for both teams. A win for Nashville could bring it closer to a different kind of trophy — a Supporters' Shield for having the best regular-season record of the year — while Austin FC is trying to finish in no lower than 9th place to make the playoffs.
We checked in with Ben Wright of SixOneFive Soccer, the definitive Nashville SC source, to get his thoughts on this match. Not only is Wright an authoritative voice on the Yotes — who was in Q2 Stadium when the team he covers lifted the trophy — but he's done outstanding national coverage for Backheeled and has appeared on Soccerwise. (We also provided answers to his questions on his site, and yes, he did ask about Chris Applewhite, who moved from Nashville to Austin recently.)
To the questions!
Nashville appears on pace to win the Supporters' Shield this year. What's improved the team from where it was last year? And, based on what you're seeing, is this a team that wins MLS Cup, or does some team out there have their number?
They're a much better team in 2026 than in 2025. They've added some key pieces like Maxwell Woledzi, Cristian Espinoza, Elias Saad, and others, who allow the team to play a much more balanced and cohesive style. They control games much more efficiently now than they did last year, although they're still pretty dangerous on the counter.
Miami is the obvious team to worry about in the playoffs. I still think they have the ability to hit a level that no other MLS team can, but they've also struggled a ton since the World Cup break and are slipping down the Eastern Conference table. The fact that Nashville look set to play every game at home in the playoffs is a huge boost.
Brian Schwake's emerged this season to become one of the league's best goalkeepers as well as a primary USMNT goalkeeper ... what is he currently best at? And what does he still need to improve on?
He's a pretty well-rounded 'keeper. He has some of the best reactions I've seen in MLS, able to make some pretty incredible saves from point-blank range. He's solid with the ball at his feet and is able to play through the first wave of pressure. His biggest weakness this season was commanding his box. At 6'2", he's not the most physically imposing player and could look suspect when dealing with crosses at times. To his credit, he's made major improvements this season, and looks much better now than in February.
His guaranteed contract is up at the end of the year, and while he does have an option, I'm fully expecting Nashville to sign him to a new, much larger deal.
Last year around this time, Nashville came to Austin and won U.S. Open Cup in a rather contentious affair. Do you expect the same level of intensity, or does this being "just" a regular season match turn the temperature down?
The temperature might not be as hot as a final with a trophy on the line, but Nashville have been pretty high-intensity all season. They're looking to lock in the Supporters' Shield (wins in Austin on Saturday and against Sporting KC on Wednesday, plus some help in other results, would officially clinch it), and they also need 15 points from their final seven games to set the single-season points record. I'm expecting them to go pretty hard at every game for the rest of the year.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Also, we're fully in the 21st century now; join us on Instagram to get updates on all our stories and podcast releases.
If a top seed falls in Soldier Field on a random Tuesday during the international break, does it make a sound? Here's how Vancouver's loss to Chicago sets up potential shifts in table math.
Los Verdes and La Murga de Austin issued a joint statement regarding the Sept. 26 match, and Austin Anthem issued its own statement via social media on Tuesday. Austin FC plays at home again on Saturday.
Eze Onuoha is a 17-year-old defensive midfielder from Finland who could be Austin FC's next signing. But will he first be a mainstay for Austin FC II? And given his reported transfer fee, is that smart roster building?
Austin FC's possession numbers and xG values haven't been sterling in 2026. But the changes made under Davy Arnaud are perceptible and bearing out in the numbers, per one analyst.
Austin FC resumes action on Saturday night, taking on league-leading Nashville SC, a little more than a year after the teams faced off in Q2 Stadium against each other in the U.S. Open Cup final.
While there's less on the line in this contest than a U.S. Open Cup trophy, there are decidedly high stakes for both teams. A win for Nashville could bring it closer to a different kind of trophy — a Supporters' Shield for having the best regular-season record of the year — while Austin FC is trying to finish in no lower than 9th place to make the playoffs.
We checked in with Ben Wright of SixOneFive Soccer, the definitive Nashville SC source, to get his thoughts on this match. Not only is Wright an authoritative voice on the Yotes — who was in Q2 Stadium when the team he covers lifted the trophy — but he's done outstanding national coverage for Backheeled and has appeared on Soccerwise. (We also provided answers to his questions on his site, and yes, he did ask about Chris Applewhite, who moved from Nashville to Austin recently.)
To the questions!
Nashville appears on pace to win the Supporters' Shield this year. What's improved the team from where it was last year? And, based on what you're seeing, is this a team that wins MLS Cup, or does some team out there have their number?
They're a much better team in 2026 than in 2025. They've added some key pieces like Maxwell Woledzi, Cristian Espinoza, Elias Saad, and others, who allow the team to play a much more balanced and cohesive style. They control games much more efficiently now than they did last year, although they're still pretty dangerous on the counter.
Miami is the obvious team to worry about in the playoffs. I still think they have the ability to hit a level that no other MLS team can, but they've also struggled a ton since the World Cup break and are slipping down the Eastern Conference table. The fact that Nashville look set to play every game at home in the playoffs is a huge boost.
Brian Schwake's emerged this season to become one of the league's best goalkeepers as well as a primary USMNT goalkeeper ... what is he currently best at? And what does he still need to improve on?
He's a pretty well-rounded 'keeper. He has some of the best reactions I've seen in MLS, able to make some pretty incredible saves from point-blank range. He's solid with the ball at his feet and is able to play through the first wave of pressure. His biggest weakness this season was commanding his box. At 6'2", he's not the most physically imposing player and could look suspect when dealing with crosses at times. To his credit, he's made major improvements this season, and looks much better now than in February.
His guaranteed contract is up at the end of the year, and while he does have an option, I'm fully expecting Nashville to sign him to a new, much larger deal.
Last year around this time, Nashville came to Austin and won U.S. Open Cup in a rather contentious affair. Do you expect the same level of intensity, or does this being "just" a regular season match turn the temperature down?
The temperature might not be as hot as a final with a trophy on the line, but Nashville have been pretty high-intensity all season. They're looking to lock in the Supporters' Shield (wins in Austin on Saturday and against Sporting KC on Wednesday, plus some help in other results, would officially clinch it), and they also need 15 points from their final seven games to set the single-season points record. I'm expecting them to go pretty hard at every game for the rest of the year.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Also, we're fully in the 21st century now; join us on Instagram to get updates on all our stories and podcast releases.
Read Next
More than one cluster: Western Conference table tightens at the top with seven matches to go
If a top seed falls in Soldier Field on a random Tuesday during the international break, does it make a sound? Here's how Vancouver's loss to Chicago sets up potential shifts in table math.
Austin FC supporters' groups issue statements tied to Sept. 26 incident at Q2 Stadium
Los Verdes and La Murga de Austin issued a joint statement regarding the Sept. 26 match, and Austin Anthem issued its own statement via social media on Tuesday. Austin FC plays at home again on Saturday.
Nothing Eze about it: What the Eze Onuoha transfer report says about building Austin FC (and Austin FC II)
Eze Onuoha is a 17-year-old defensive midfielder from Finland who could be Austin FC's next signing. But will he first be a mainstay for Austin FC II? And given his reported transfer fee, is that smart roster building?
How is possession changing for the new-look Austin FC?
Austin FC's possession numbers and xG values haven't been sterling in 2026. But the changes made under Davy Arnaud are perceptible and bearing out in the numbers, per one analyst.